The purpose
of the academic study of religion is to analyze and interpret religious beliefs and practices in their cultural contexts and historical development.

The discipline
of religious studies requires critical reflection on ideas about the nature of reality, ideal forms of human society, rituals of individual and societal identity, and sources of authority in personal and social morality.

Our faculty
are formally trained in Biblical Studies, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Our areas of expertise range from the ancient period to the present day, spanning the Near East and the Mediterranean, Europe, South, Southeast and East Asia, and the Americas. Every year we cross-list a variety of courses with Asian Studies, Feminist and Gender Studies, and Race, Ethnicity and Migration Studies, and we regularly offer courses on Indigenous Traditions.

Our department
warmly invites you to explore our curriculum and to discover the many ways that the study of religion inspires self-reflection and enhances critical thinking, offers knowledge of diverse cultures, and enriches the liberal arts education.